2015 Caulfield Cup Third Acceptances Leave 38

Just 38 stayers are still in the mix for a shot at the Caulfield Cup 2015 Saturday week in Melbourne following Tuesday’s third acceptances for the mile and a half classic.

Complacent (inside) and Hauraki (outside) are two of the three John O’Shea-trained hopes still in 2015 Caulfield Cup contention after third acceptances. Photo: Steve Hart.

Last declaration stage there were 81 acceptances, a number that was more than halved with third declarations taken this week for the $3 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) set to run at Caulfield Racecourse on October 17.

Current equal top weights in the Caulfield Cup handicaps this Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival allocated 58kg are the Sir Michael Stoute-trained European raider Snow Sky and last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist, who are looking to become the third Caulfield Cup winner in four years to carry that weight to victory joining Dunaden (2012) and Admire Rakti (2014).

In the futures Caulfield Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, home of the $700 bonus bet for first time depositing players that quote the code SPRINGBONUS this season, Snow Sky pays $15 for the win while the now Kris Lees-trained German import Protectionist is a $41 outsider in the all-in markets.

After taking out a Group 2 double that included the Hardwicke Stakes (2414m) at Ascot earlier this year, Nayef stallion Snow Sky was last seen racing on July 25 when sixth of seven runners in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2414m) that he’ll be out to improve on if he makes it to into the capacity 18-starter Caulfield Cup field.

Protectionist meanwhile hasn’t won a race since the Melbourne Cup over the two miles last spring and has had three below par runs this time in including a disappointing 13^th in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington last Sunday.

Also high up the Caulfield Cup weights this season are the Yoshitada Munakata-trained Japanese raider Fame Game (57kg) and Lee & Anthony Freedman’s Our Ivanhowe (56kg).

Heart’s Cry six-year-old Fame Game is looking to go back-to-back for the Japanese in the Caulfield Cup following the success of Admire Rakti 12 months ago.

He leads the latest Caulfield Cup betting markets at $8.50 as the only single figure fancy and was last seen running second to champion galloper Gold Ship in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m) back home in late May when defeated only a quarter length carrying 58kg.

Imported German galloper Our Ivanhowe is a $15 shot after improving on his two previous runs down under, the Group 1 winning son of Soldier Hollow crossing second in last Sunday’s Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington with a hefty 60kg on his back compared to the winner Let’s Make Adeal’s 54kg.

Occupying the second line of Caulfield Cup odds at $11 are the John O’Shea-trained Hauraki (53kg), Rising Romance (53kg) and light weight hope Set Square (51kg).

O’Shea and the Godolphin stable still have three Caulfield Cup hopes with last start Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) winner in Sydney Complacent ($13), in-form Magic Hurricane ($17) who enjoyed an elite level success last time out in Randwick’s Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) carrying 55.5kg and Hauraki.

A four-year-old son of Reset, Hauraki is on the improve this season as he steps up in distance, the autumn’s Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) runner-up last seen crossing second to stablemate Complacent in the Craven Plate with improvement expected when he drops down in weights and goes up in distance.

Rising Romance and Set Square are both out to become the first Caulfield Cup winning mare since Southern Speed (2011).

Kiwi expat Rising Romance is now prepared by David Hayes & Tom Dabernig and is looking to atone for her Turnbull Stakes 12^th over the 2000m from the outside barrier (15) while fellow Group 1 winner Set Square is prepared by Ciaron Maher and comes off a Turnbull third when beaten under a length.

Other notable Caulfield Cup second acceptors include the other Japanese galloper in the mix Hokko Brave ($13), Murray Baker’s ATC Derby winning stallion Mongolian Khan ($13) who ran fourth in the Group 1 The Underwood (1800m) at Caulfield last start and the Darren Weir-trained nine-year-old Dandino ($15) out to become the first of his age to win the race in over 30 years.

Check out the full Caulfield Cup 2015 third acceptances below, final declarations due for release at 10am (AEST) on Tuesday October 13.

Before then make sure you place your futures bets on the upcoming Group 1 staying showdown online at Ladbrokes.com.au at the guaranteed hottest odds!

2015 Caulfield Cup Third Declarations

Caulfield Race 7 – 17/10/2015